Root Canal Therapy in Allentown

Most patients think root canals are painful, but actually, these tooth saving dental restorations relieve toothache pain and dental sensitivity. We need to perform root canal therapy to preserve a natural tooth following advanced decay or damage. At Tomko Dental Associates, our Allentown dentist and team offer safe, effective root canal therapy to renew oral health and relieve toothache pain. If you believe you’re suffering from root canal therapy, contact us for an emergency dentistry appointment. We’ll get to work right away relieving pain and restoring your smile.

When Do I Need a Root Canal?

A root canal is a restorative service that is necessary when dental decay or damage accesses the inner layers of teeth, called pulp. When this happens, the result can be severe pain. Without the removal and restoration of damaged interior dental structures, the tooth would need to be removed. Root canal therapy allows us to repair tooth damage and avoid unnecessary loss of a healthy tooth. The only way to know for sure that you need a root canal is to receive an examination from your dentist. However, it’s also important that patients be aware of the common warning signs that indicate a need for root canal therapy including:

• Severe toothache that may present as sharp pain when biting down or a dull, consistent throb
• Dental sensitivity that lingers following exposure to hot or cold foods and beverages
• Darkened areas on the surfaces of teeth
• Infection or inflammation in the gums around a specific tooth

What Should I Expect During Root Canal Therapy?

Most patients associate root canals with pain, but actually, these restorative treatments will quickly relieve toothache pain. We begin by numbing the area around the tooth. Then, we drill a small hole from the top of the tooth to the interior pulp layers of teeth where the tooth nerve is housed. We remove the entire pulp and nerve structure. Then, the tooth is refilled with a similar, biocompatible structure called gutta percha. The access hole on top of the tooth is resealed. In most cases, we place a dental crown to fortify and protect the treated tooth.

What Happens After Root Canals?

Following your root canal therapy, you may experience some mild discomfort or tooth sensitivity for the first 48 hours. All pain should be completely abated within a week. If you are still experiencing discomfort or sensitivity after a week or you are in severe pain following treatment, contact us right away. This can be a sign of root canal failure, which is very rare. When root canal failure does happen, we may need to partner with a local specialist to retreat the tooth. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time, if you have questions or concerns following your root canal treatment at Tomko Dental Associates.